Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the most common non-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability/usability of a protocol using a non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app, performed remotely in a sample of Italian patients with PD. Methods: Non-demented patients with mild PD were included in the study. Patients performed the cognitive rehabilitation in a remote way, at home (three training sessions lasting 20 min/week for 6 weeks) using the NeuroNation app, downloaded for free on the patients' smartphones. The usability and feasibility of the tele-cognitive rehabilitation program were assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). Results: Sixteen patients (9 men and 7 women; mean age 58.4 ± 8.3 years; mean disease duration 4.6 ± 2.1 years) were included in the study. At the end of the study, the mean SUS was 83.4 ± 11.5. The GAS score recorded at the end of the study (65.6 ± 4.2) was significantly higher than at baseline (38.5 ± 2.4; P-value <0.001). Conclusion: In our sample, good feasibility and usability were observed for a 6-week cognitive rehabilitation protocol based on the non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app NeuroNation. Our data support the usefulness of cognitive rehabilitation performed in a remote way in PD patients.

Feasibility and usability of a non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app in cognitive rehabilitation of patients affected by Parkinson's disease

Maggio, Maria Grazia;Luca, Antonina;Nicoletti, Alessandra
2022-01-01

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the most common non-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability/usability of a protocol using a non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app, performed remotely in a sample of Italian patients with PD. Methods: Non-demented patients with mild PD were included in the study. Patients performed the cognitive rehabilitation in a remote way, at home (three training sessions lasting 20 min/week for 6 weeks) using the NeuroNation app, downloaded for free on the patients' smartphones. The usability and feasibility of the tele-cognitive rehabilitation program were assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). Results: Sixteen patients (9 men and 7 women; mean age 58.4 ± 8.3 years; mean disease duration 4.6 ± 2.1 years) were included in the study. At the end of the study, the mean SUS was 83.4 ± 11.5. The GAS score recorded at the end of the study (65.6 ± 4.2) was significantly higher than at baseline (38.5 ± 2.4; P-value <0.001). Conclusion: In our sample, good feasibility and usability were observed for a 6-week cognitive rehabilitation protocol based on the non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app NeuroNation. Our data support the usefulness of cognitive rehabilitation performed in a remote way in PD patients.
2022
Parkinson's disease
cognitive rehabilitation
feasibility
mobile health
smartphone app
usability
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/549416
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